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(No Model.) A ZSheetvs-Sheeb 1. J. ROBERTS.

GAN GAPPING MACHINE.

No. 253,104. Patented'Jan. 31,1882.

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ATTORNEYS (No Model.) n J ROBERTS 2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

CAN GAPPING. MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 31, 1882.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR ivm@ umd w ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES i PATENT OEETCE.

JOSEPH ROBERTS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WVM. F. ROBERTS, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of` Letters Patent No. 253,104, dated January 31, 1882.

Application filed June 23, 1881.

To all 'whom it may conce/ra;

Be it known that I, JOSEPH Renners, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Capping Machines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in I5 devices for capping fruit-cans, the object being to provide an article of this character capable of simultaneously capping a number of cans, and which shall combine cheapness and simplicity of 'construction with durability in use and ease of operation.

With these ends in view .my invention consistsin certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective ofa can-capping machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view, in perspective, of the frame which supports the soldering-irons, with the irons and cogs removed. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section of the frame, showing the irons in position, and also the apparatus for heating them. Fig-,t is a view in perspective of oneof the soldering-irons, and Fig. 5 isa view thereof in vertical cross-section.

The standard of the machine consists ot' a table, A, adapted to receive the trays containing the cans to be capped, of upright posts B, from which an adjustable frame is suspended, and of braces D, arranged to give rigidity'to the posts B. The adjustable frame aforesaid, which supports the soldering-irons E', the centering-irons F, and the mechanism for rotating the former, is suspended by chains G from a shaft, H, journaled in the upper ends of posts B, and adapted to be revolved by handle I. The said frame consists of two angular side pieces, each consisting of two inclined b eams, J, vertically-slotted uprights K and horizontal 5o anged bars M, adapted to receive and sup- (No model.)

port adjustable plates N, from which the soldering-irons E depend.

The plates'N, which extend to the uprights K, and which are arranged to be withdrawn from the machine from opposite sides thereof, are provided with perforations N', adapted to receive the upper ends, O, of the bloeksP, to which the soldering-irons El are attached. Oentrally-perforated cogs Q are rigidly secured to the ends O of the blocks'P aforesaid, which 6o project above the plates N and are arranged to mesh with each other. Motion is transmitted to all of the cogs, or the whole number on one plate, through one which meshes with the upright pinion R, secured to shaft S, mounted in a cross-beam, T, interposed between the two posts B. The upper end of shaft S is provided with a bevel-gear, U, which engages with a bevel-gear, V, mounted on shaft W, interposed between the posts B, and actuated by means 7o of a handle, X. Both the cross-beams T and the shaft W, in being joined at opposite ends to the posts B, are passed through the vertical slots in the uprights K of the frame C, which is steadied in its reciprocating motion between 7'5 the said posts by means of pins Y, secured to the outer faces of the ianged bars M, and

which ,are received within. elongated slots Z,

formed in the posts.

The centerin g-irons F, which axially traverse Sc the cogs Q and the vertically-perforated blocks I), are rigidly secured to two plates, A, located respectively on opposite sides ofthe shafts and pinion R. The said irons have cuts or grooves B in their lower ends to facilitate the escape of hot air from the cans.

The soldering-irons consist each of an open ring of steel, E', secured to the blocks P, and cut away at each end to form slot C', which permits the escape of steam and vapor and 9o allows the top ofthe can to be easily inspected.

The blocks P are provided with two collars,

D2 and E2, either of which is adapted to receive a soldering-iron according to the size of cancaps to be soldered. If the can-caps are large, an iron of corresponding size should he secured to the collar D, while if the can-caps are small an iron ot' corresponding size should be attached to collar E2. The blocks P are also centrally perforated to receive the centering-irons roo F, and to allow them free reciprocation therein. The irons are heated without removing them from the machine by means of gas-jets, of which there is one to each iron.

The heating apparatus consists of two gaspipes, F', connected by flexible pipes G with the ends of pipes Il', longitudinally traversing the under face of each of the plates N, the said pipes H heilig provided with gas-jets I equal in number to the number ofirons which it supports.

The object in providing flexible communication between the pipes F and H is to permit the adjustable frame to be moved up or down, as may be necessary, without disturbing the operation ofthe heating apparatus.

If desired to heat the irons apart from the machine, or if for any reason it becomes necessary to remove them-as, for instance, to substitute for them others of different sizeeither of the plates N may be withdrawn, as before described, together with the irons and cogs which they severally support, by raising either ot' the plates Af until the centering-irons F, secured to them, are entirely released from engagement with thev perforated blocks P and their cogs. The adjustable frame is adapted to be heldin any desired adjustment by means of a ratchet, I', secured to the. shaft H.

Having described my improved machine, I will now briefly set forth its method of operation.

The centering-irons of both plates A are` first raised by theshaftH,which,\vhen revolved, will elevate the adjustable frame, and, engaging the plates A', elevate them also; or, if desired, either or both sets of centering-irons may be elevated without disturbing the frame by lifting the plates A by hand or by other means provided. \Vhen the centering-irons are raised above the table A to a height a little greater than the height of a can the cans are inserted under the frame in trays and ar- V.ranged in such order that when itis lowered the centering-irons will severally rest on the center of the cap of each can. The solderingirons,previously heated by the apparatus herein described, are now lowered to engage with the top ofthe cans by reversing the handle I, and rotated through motion transmitted from the handle X through a train of gearing described. /Vhen the caps have been soldered onto one tray of cans it can be readily substituted by another by raising the centering and soldering irons through handle I.

By means of my improved machine, which may be arranged to accommodate any number of eans, they may be capped rapidly, easily, and perfectly, and with a corresponding economy of time and labor.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself'to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope ot' my iuvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a standard, an adjustable frame suspended therefrom, and a removable plate supported in said frame, of a series of solderingirons having cog-wheels attached thereto'and arranged to retain the soldering-irons in place, and suitable gearing for imparting rotary movement to the series of soldering-irons simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a standard having a shaft journaled therein, a frame, and flexible connection between said shaft and frame, and a plate supported in the lower end of said suspended frame, of a series of soldering-irons connected with said plate, cog-wheels attached to each soldering-iron, and gearing forimpartin g si multaneous rotary motion to the entire series of soldering-irons.

3. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a standard, of a frame, perforated plates removably secured thereto, soldering irons attached to said plates, cogs secured to the several irons and arranged to mesh with each other, centering-irons adapted to reciprocate in the vertical axes of the cogs and soldering-irons, and gearing to revolve them, substantially as set forth. i

4. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a standard, of an adjustable frame, two perforated plates mounted in said frame and adapted to be inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom from opposite'sides of the standard, soldering-irons mounted in each of said plates, gearing to rotate them, and centering-irons rigidly secured to frames located above the plates and adapted to reciprocate in the vertical axes of the cogs and solderingirons, substantially as setforth.

5. In a soldering-iron, the combination,with a block provided with two or more collars of different sizes, of a metallic ring secured according to its size to one of said collars, the ends of the ring being cut away to form a slot where they come together, substantially as set forth. l,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of June, 1881.

JOSE PII ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

W. S. WILKINSON, LEWIS G. MEYEns, GEORGE W. ltoBERTs.

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